Christchurch City Council is rebuilding the earthquake-damaged South Library and Customer Service Hub building, Te Kete Wānanga o wai Mōkihi, in Beckenham. Ōmōkihi is scheduled to open in December 2026.
Read the project page and sign up to the Ōmōkihi project newsletter
Ōmōkihi photos
Take a look at the construction of Ōmōkihi
About Ōmōkihi
The South Library and Customer Service Hub building was badly damaged in the 2010/2011 earthquakes.
Councillors have supported a recommendation from the Waihoro Spreydon-Cashmere-Heathcote Community Board and decided on a full rebuild instead of a repair.
The design is based on the same floor area as the current facility, and provides for the same services – library, customer services, learning centre, café, governance spaces and meeting rooms. View the developed design drawings [PDF, 25 MB]
The layout of the facility is updated with improvements to how the space can be used and to provide more flexibility for future use. The design carefully considers the building’s energy efficiency and the total carbon impact of the project over the life cycle of the building. The design allows for solar panels and EV charging to be included in the future.
The Council has $32 million of funding put aside for Ōmōkihi, as confirmed in the Long Term Plan 2024–2034 process. Ngāi Tūāhuriri has gifted the name Ōmōkihi.
The Council has opened two new pop-up facilities to serve the local community during the rebuild. The temporary library, South Colombo, is open at The Colombo shopping centre. The temporary Customer Service Hub is open at Pioneer Recreation and Sport Centre.
We also have our South Mobile library van servicing various handy locations in the area. That includes local schools, community hubs, Princess Margaret Hospital, the Cashmere Club and She Chocolaterie.
We've also extended the hours at the nearby Spreydon Library.
Ōmōkihi timeline
Monday 18 August 2025: First concrete pour
Cook Brothers Construction has completed the first concrete pour on Ōmōkihi, using more than 300 cubic metres of concrete, which comes to 52 truckloads.
Read Foundation laid as Ōmōkihi takes shape on Newsline.
Tuesday 15 April 2025: Rebuild to begin
Contractor appointed and demolition begins.
Cook Brothers Construction has been appointed the main contractor to carry out the construction of Ōmōkihi. They'll spend the first few weeks stripping out the interiors of the existing building at 66 Colombo Street, then move on to the full demolition.
Read Ōmokihi South Library and Customer Service Hub rebuild to begin on Newsline
Monday 13 January 2025: New library and service hub popping up soon in South
The temporary library, South Colombo, is opening at The Colombo shopping centre on Monday 24 February 2025. The temporary Customer Service Hub is opening at Pioneer Recreation and Sport Centre on Monday 10 February.
Read New library and service hub popping up soon in South on Newsline
13 February 2024: The new South Library has been gifted a name - Ōmōkihi – connecting the building back to its riverside site
The name has been given to Christchurch City Council by Ngāi Tūāhuriri and is consistent with the traditional practice of whakahaumanu te papatupu | restoring the customary title to the land beneath the building. Read more: Connecting South Library back to its history Newsline, 13 February 2024
28 September 2023: Rebuild recommended
The Waihoro Spreydon-Cashmere-Heathcote Community Board recommends a rebuild of the South Library building and endorses the concept design. Read Decision on the future of South Library on Newsline.
30 May 2023: Concept design released for feedback
The concept design is released for public feedback. Read First look at the concept design for a new South Library and Service Centre on Newsline.
January 2023: Lead designer appointed
Ignite Architecture appointed as the lead designer.
1 June 2022: Rebuild investigated
The Council’s Sustainability and Community Resilience Committee has agreed that it makes more sense to build a new facility than to repair the existing building. Read Concept plans to be drawn up for new South Library and Service Centre on Newsline.